woodland shrub
Yaupon Holly
Ilex vomitoria
1 of 2Native to the Southeast
Southeastern Virginia to Florida, west to Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, and south-central Texas
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry to moist Moisture preference
- Zones 7–10 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Mar–Apr Flowering time
- Height 12–45 ft 3.7–13.7 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland shrub for sun through shade and dry to moist soil. Its white flowers peak in March. At 12–45 ft, it needs room in shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 7–10.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
When it blooms
The Yaupon Holly's white flowers bloom March to April, peaking in March. This early-spring ephemeral draws butterflies and bees.
Yaupon Holly blooms whiteFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Monarch also Red Admiral, Red-banded Hairstreak, Mitoura gryneus
- Bees Eastern Carpenter Bee also Western Honey Bee, American Bumble Bee, Andrena dolomellea
- Beetles Margined Leatherwing Beetle also Tilloclytus geminatus
- Also visited by
- Flower flies: Brachypalpoides bicolor, Palpada agrorum
- Wasps: One-banded Mason Wasp, Apache Paper Wasp
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Banded hairstreaknectar
- Juniper hairstreaknectar
- Monarch butterflynectar
- Red admiralnectar
- Red-banded hairstreaknectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- The SoutheastUnited States (11): AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TX, VA. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Southeastern Virginia to Florida, west to Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, and south-central TexasThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- Dry to moistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 7–10The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist or well drained, sandy, loamy, clay, limestone, or gravelly soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 4.5–7.0The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- LowHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- MediumHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- LowHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- 12–45 ft (3.7–13.7 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- SlowA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 20+ in (51+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- ShrubWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Mar–AprWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- WhiteThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Jan–DecThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Required (cold, moist)Whether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- Bare root, container, seedHow to start new plants.
- Seed
- ~0.0 million seeds per poundNotes on the seed and how to sow it.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- LowHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- NoneWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.